The 2009 Volkswagen Jetta Se stands out as a reliable and safe vehicle, especially when considering options in the used car market. Understanding its safety features and crash test performance is crucial for any prospective buyer. This article delves into the safety aspects of the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta SE, drawing upon official crash test data to provide a comprehensive overview of its safety capabilities.
Excellent Crash Test Ratings for the 2009 Jetta SE
The Volkswagen Jetta underwent a redesign in 2005, and the safety ratings from tests conducted on the 2005 model are applicable to models built after November 2004, including the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta SE. These ratings also extend to the Jetta SportWagen starting from the 2009 model year. This means that the 2009 Jetta SE benefits from a robust design and safety features evaluated through rigorous testing.
The crash test results for the Volkswagen Jetta are categorized based on various evaluation criteria, providing a detailed breakdown of its performance. The ratings are as follows:
Overall Evaluation: Good
The highest possible rating, “Good,” was awarded for the overall evaluation of the Volkswagen Jetta in these crash tests. This signifies that the vehicle provides a high level of protection in the event of a crash.
Structure and Safety Cage: Good
A “Good” rating for structure and safety cage is a critical indicator of vehicle safety. It means the structural integrity of the Jetta SE is well-designed to withstand crash forces, maintaining the occupant compartment space and reducing the risk of injury.
Driver and Rear Passenger Injury Measures: Good Across the Board
The 2009 Volkswagen Jetta SE demonstrated “Good” ratings across all driver and rear passenger injury measures. This includes protection for the head/neck, torso, and pelvis/leg regions. Furthermore, both driver and rear passenger head protection were also rated as “Good.” These consistent “Good” ratings highlight the Jetta SE’s ability to protect occupants in various crash scenarios.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Torso | G |
| Pelvis/leg | G |
| Driver head protection | G |
| Rear passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Torso | G |
| Pelvis/leg | G |
| Rear passenger head protection | G |
Detailed Look at Crash Performance Metrics
Beyond the overall ratings, technical measurements from the crash tests provide a deeper understanding of the 2009 Jetta SE’s performance.
Occupant Compartment Intrusion
In driver-side occupant compartment intrusion measurements, the B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver’s seat showed -15.5 cm. The negative value indicates that the crush stopped short of the driver’s seat centerline, demonstrating good structural resistance and minimal intrusion into the driver’s space.
Driver and Passenger Injury Metrics
Detailed measurements for driver and passenger injuries are also available, covering areas such as head impact criteria (HIC), neck tension and compression, shoulder deflection and force, torso deflection and viscous criterion, pelvis iliac and acetabulum forces, and femur forces and moments. These measurements are crucial for engineers to assess the effectiveness of safety systems and identify areas for improvement. For the 2005 VW Jetta tested (representative of the 2009 SE model in terms of safety structure), these measurements were well within acceptable safety limits, contributing to the “Good” ratings.
Driver Injury Measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | CES0506 |
| Head HIC-15 | 302 |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 0.6 |
| Neck Compression (kN) | 0.5 |
| Shoulder Lateral deflection (mm) | 36 |
| Shoulder Lateral force (kN) | 1.7 |
| Torso Maximum deflection (mm) | 34 |
| Torso Average deflection (mm) | 26 |
| Torso Maximum deflection rate (m/s) | 4.04 |
| Torso Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) | 0.62 |
| Pelvis Iliac force (kN) | 1.3 |
| Pelvis Acetabulum force (kN) | 2.4 |
| Pelvis Combined force (kN) | 3.4 |
| Left Femur L-M force (kN) | 0.8 |
| Left Femur L-M moment (Nm) | 88 |
| Left Femur A-P moment (Nm) | 32 |
Passenger Injury Measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | CES0506 |
| Head HIC-15 | 134 |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 0.1 |
| Neck Compression (kN) | 0.5 |
| Shoulder Lateral deflection (mm) | 42 |
| Shoulder Lateral force (kN) | 2.5 |
| Torso Maximum deflection (mm) | 37 |
| Torso Average deflection (mm) | 29 |
| Torso Maximum deflection rate (m/s) | 2.53 |
| Torso Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) | 0.55 |
| Pelvis Iliac force (kN) | 0.3 |
| Pelvis Acetabulum force (kN) | 3.0 |
| Pelvis Combined force (kN) | 3.2 |
| Left Femur L-M force (kN) | 2.2 |
| Left Femur L-M moment (Nm) | 148 |
| Left Femur A-P moment (Nm) | -46 |
Visual Inspection After Crash Tests
Photographic evidence from the crash tests further illustrates the Jetta SE’s safety performance.
View of the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta SE after a frontal offset crash test, showing vehicle and barrier impact.
This image captures the immediate aftermath of the frontal offset crash test. It provides a visual representation of how the Jetta SE’s front structure absorbed the impact energy.
Side view of the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta SE post-crash test with doors removed, revealing side airbags and occupant compartment integrity.
This image, with the doors removed, highlights the deployment of the side airbags and the integrity of the occupant compartment after the crash. The minimal deformation of the passenger cell is evident, reinforcing the “Good” rating for structure and safety cage.
Action shot of the side impact crash test on a 2009 Volkswagen Jetta SE, demonstrating driver head protection by the side curtain airbag.
This action shot during the side impact crash test clearly shows how the side curtain airbag effectively protected the driver dummy’s head from hitting hard structures, a crucial safety feature of the 2009 Jetta SE.
Greasepaint on the rear passenger dummy’s head in a 2009 Volkswagen Jetta SE side impact test, indicating head protection by the side airbag.
Similarly, this image uses smeared greasepaint to demonstrate the rear passenger dummy’s head protection provided by the side airbag in the side impact test. This visual confirmation further supports the “Good” rating for rear passenger head protection.
Conclusion: The 2009 Volkswagen Jetta SE as a Safe Choice
The 2009 Volkswagen Jetta SE earns its reputation as a safe vehicle. With “Good” ratings in overall crash tests, structural integrity, and occupant protection for both front and rear passengers, the Jetta SE provides peace of mind. The detailed crash test data and visual evidence reinforce its safety capabilities, making the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta SE a strong contender for safety-conscious buyers, especially in the used car market. Its robust safety features and proven crash performance make it a smart choice for those prioritizing safety and reliability.
